In a sharp critique from Gujarat’s Tharad, Congress MP Geniben Thakor has torn into the Union Budget for 2026-27, labeling it a profound letdown for India’s farmers, women, and young people. Delivered just hours after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the budget in Parliament, Thakor’s remarks underscore a growing chorus of discontent among opposition voices.
Farmers, the backbone of the nation’s economy, find themselves shortchanged yet again, Thakor asserted. With no meaningful interventions on minimum support prices, soaring fertilizer and seed costs, irrigation deficits, or assured income growth, rural India stares at continued uncertainty. Farmers in Banaskantha and surrounding agricultural belts had pinned hopes on targeted provisions that simply never materialized.
The budget’s silence on women’s empowerment is equally glaring. No fresh initiatives emerged to bolster employment, self-employment opportunities, or economic independence for women, leaving half the population sidelined in the march toward progress.
Youth unemployment, a ticking time bomb for the country, received scant attention. Despite alarming joblessness rates, the document lacks concrete, time-bound measures to generate new opportunities, Thakor pointed out, warning of deepening frustration among the demographic set to drive India’s future.
Social sectors fared no better. Allocations for education, healthcare, rural development, and infrastructure fall woefully short of what’s needed, she charged. These pillars directly shape everyday lives, yet they’ve been denied the priority they deserve.
Thakor accused the budget of favoring select elites over the broader populace. ‘This isn’t a budget that mirrors the aspirations of ordinary Indians,’ she declared. While capital expenditure and infrastructure get a boost to sustain growth, and heritage tourism projects like Lothal and Dholavira in Gujarat gain spotlight alongside urban reforms, the fundamental needs of the masses remain unaddressed.
As debates rage in Parliament, Thakor’s voice amplifies calls for a more inclusive fiscal roadmap that truly serves the people.